Freshmen Week and the Rules
Traditionally the beginning of the school year is marked by Freshmen Orientation - a time when incoming students are given the "run-down" of how things work at UB. In the 1948-1949 Student Handbook "Freshmen Week" is explained:
Welcome all you Freshmen. The incoming women students are at this time given into the care of a "sister" - an upperclass woman of the University. A tea is held in the afternoon to acquaint the new girls with as many of the student body as possible. A Men's Mixer is the source of many new found friendships on the behalf of the male population of the University. All this is made possible through Norton Union as one of its many services to the new students.
The Frosh were also given a small card easy to fit in a purse or pocket with the "Bible" of a new UB student: the Alma Mater, Class Yells, the song The Bison is King and of course the very important Freshmen Rules.
The Freshmen Rules were offically adopted on September 30, 1916 when a special Student Council committee was granted permission from the Medical Faculty to enforce the rules. The committee consisted of the president of the senior class, the presidents of the three respective Medical Fraternities and one non-fraternity man elected from the student body at large.
The Rules were an important part of Student Life for many years. Compare the first Freshmen Rules in 1916 to the Freshmen Rules of the 1960s:
Freshman Rules, 1916
- A freshman is any student spending his first year in any Department of the University and who is eligible for freshmen teams.
- Each and every freshman shall wear at all times, except Sundays and special occasions, a cap of the following description: A blue skull cap with a white button. All freshmen must have caps by October 7th.
- No freshman shall smoke in or about the building nor shall he smoke a pipe on the streets of Buffalo. The smoking room in the Medical building is for upper classmen ONLY.
- No freshman shall indulge in alcoholic liquids, nor shall he be allowed in the G.A. or in any of the cabarets or cafes of Buffalo, unless accompanied by an upper classman.
- Freshmen must not flirt with girls during school hours.
- No freshman shall be permitted to sit in the first six rows, or in the boxes of any theatre unless accompanied by parents or upper classmen.
- No freshman shall occupy a seat in a trolly car when by so doing a lady or an upper classman may be oblidged to stand.
- Painting or other wise defacing the buildings or equipment of the University is forbidden.
- All freshmen shall be in their rooms by 11:30 p.m.
- No freshman shall wear a moustache, nor shall he while in college wear a pin representing his preparatory school in any manner, nor shall he wear any emblem or insignia of that institution.
It is incumbent upon freshmen to remember and observe these rules without having to be spoken to by upper classmen.
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Freshman Rules, c.1960s
- All Freshmen are required to wear caps such as are prescribed from Opening Day of College until Moving Up Day, every day except Sunday, from 7:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M., and at University Games.
- Freshmen shall not smoke in or about University buildings but shall carry matches for upper classmen.
- Freshmen shall not wear any preparatory or high school pins or insignia of any kind at College.
- Freshmen must show due respect for upper classmen, such as wearing no mustaches, sideburns, and giving up seats in case none are vacant to Upperclassmen.
- Every Freshmen must know his Freshmen rules, "The Alma Mater," the Yells, and other College Songs.
- Freshmen must sit in reserved section at all games.
- All Freshmen must turn out for all parades and mass meetings, as on Student Activities Day and Moving Up Day.
- Freshmen shall not wear anything gaudy -- suitable attire shall consist of white shirts and collars, inconspicuous ties, black sox, no belled trousers, meek face and moderate voice.
- Freshmen shall respond to Student Activities calls and promote the growth and development of the University of Buffalo to the best of their ability.
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